Written question asked by Marquess of Lothian (Conservative) on Tuesday, 17 January 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 19 January 2006. It was answered by Lord Touhig (Labour) on Monday, 30 January 2006 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Iraq

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how nerve agent pre-treatment tablets were administered during the 2003 invasion of Iraq on Operation TELIC; what records of their administration were kept; and what monitoring of potential side-effects took place.

Answer: Self-administration of NAPS is one of the crucial life-saving protection measures that can be taken in a situation where a nerve agent attack is a possibility.Nerve agent pre-treatment sets (NAPS) tablets were issued to personnel by their commanders, and self-administered on command. Operational commanders were given the authority to decide when troops should start and stop taking NAPS in order that the use of the countermeasure could be adapted to meet the threat situation at the time.Due to the policy of self-administration of NAPS tablets, as opposed to administration by a medical officer, no records of their administration are kept.All Service personnel receive training on the importance of taking NAPS in theatre and instructions for the use of NAPS are well publicised to command and medical staff.The use of NAPS on Operation TELIC ceased in April 2003. As at 30 April 2003, no serious adverse events had been reported through epidemiology and theatre reporting systems.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 44224; 442 c37W;442 c37W
Session: 2005-06
Subjects: Armed forces Chemical and biological warfare Health hazards Iraq Iraq conflict
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk